The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) said on Monday that its fighters continued to hold positions in several parts of Balochistan more than 58 hours after launching coordinated attacks under the second phase of “Operation Herof.”
In a statement, BLA spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch said “Nushki city and a large section of the Pakistan Army camp” remained under the group’s control, claiming that Pakistani forces were facing “intense pressure and retreat” despite repeated attempts to regain lost ground.
“For the past three days, Baloch fighters have been fighting with determination and courage, continuously forcing enemy forces into disarray, and in several areas the authority of the occupying army has been completely dismantled,” the statement said.
BLA Claims Nearly 220 Pakistani Personnel Killed, 27 Fighters Dead
The BLA said its “preliminary and cautious” estimates suggested that close to 220 personnel of the Pakistani army, police, Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and pro-government armed groups had been killed so far.
It said the figures were expected to rise as the situation evolved, adding that detailed assessments of “human and material losses” would be released later.
According to the group, 27 BLA fighters had been killed since the start of the operation, including 14 fidayeen of the Majeed Brigade, eight members of the Fateh Squad and five from the STOS unit.
The statement said Nushki remained “under the control of Baloch fighters,” while operations were ongoing in other districts where completion had not yet been announced. Residents were urged to remain cautious, maintain distance from military installations and “continue providing support and cooperation.”
BLA Releases Profiles of Two Female ‘Fidayeen’
Alongside its battlefield update, the BLA released profiles of two female fighters it said had taken part in the operation.
The first was identified as Hatam Naz Sumalani, 60, from Gharbok in Bolan. The group said she joined the BLA in 2015, was injured during the 2016 operation against Ustad Aslam and later remained forcibly disappeared for four months after being detained by Pakistani forces. According to the BLA, she made her “fidayee decision” in January 2023.
The second fighter was identified as 23-year-old Asifa Mengal, from Killi Qazi Abad in Nushki. The group said she joined the Majeed Brigade on 2 October 2023, took her “fidayee decision” in January 2024 and carried out a vehicle-borne explosive attack targeting the ISI headquarters in Noshki on 31 January.
Ground Situation: Nushki
Residents in Nushki who spoke to The Balochistan Post described what they called one of the most intense periods of fighting in recent years, saying explosions and sustained gunfire had continued into a third consecutive day.
They said heavy firing and blasts began early Saturday and intensified through the weekend, with explosions reported near major security installations, including central military camps and an intelligence office.
According to multiple residents, a Pakistan Army sub-camp in the Galangoor area, located roughly 36 kilometres from Nushki, was overrun late Sunday after several hours of fighting.
Residents also reported widespread destruction in parts of the city following what they described as heavy and indiscriminate bombardment by Pakistani UCAVs overnight.
They said Nushki’s main market had been “reduced to rubble, with not a single building left undamaged.” More than 20 drone strikes were reported in and around Killi Jamaldini, where several civilians, including women and children, were said to have been killed or injured.
Road links connecting Noshki to surrounding towns remain cut, residents said, restricting movement and limiting the arrival of reinforcements by land.
Washuk Becomes Latest District to Fall Under BLA Control
In the neighbouring district of Washuk, local sources said armed men entered the town early Monday and overran several government buildings, including the deputy commissioner’s office, police stations and banks. Multiple offices were reportedly set ablaze as fighters established control of the area.
Washuk is the ninth city to fall to Baloch fighters in the last 72 hours.